When driving at night on an unlit, winding road outside built-up areas, you should not drive at the maximum speed limit to avoid hitting an unlit obstacle. Is this true?

The question is about driving at night outside a built-up area on an unlit, winding road. It is true that to avoid hitting an unlit obstacle, you should not drive at the maximum speed limit. The answer is: yes.

The Road Traffic Act requires you to drive at a speed that ensures control of the vehicle, taking into account the conditions in which traffic takes place, in particular the terrain, the condition and visibility of the road. At night on an unlit road you can see only as much as your headlights light up: dipped headlights reach about 40-60 m, and on a bend the beam of light goes off the roadway and you can see even less. Meanwhile, the stopping distance at 90 km/h is about 70-80 m on a dry surface - more than you can see. An unlit obstacle, for example a pedestrian in dark clothes, an animal, a cyclist without lights or a broken-down car, appears within the range of your lights too late for you to brake in time. That is why in such conditions the 90 km/h limit is an upper limit, not a safe speed; you drive so that you can stop within the area lit by your headlights, and you use main beam when you are not dazzling anyone.

Legal basis: Art. 19 para. 1 and Art. 51 para. 3 of the Road Traffic Act (Prawo o ruchu drogowym)